Lumad partylist hopeful, seeks Apo Sandawa’s blessings

“Nangayo kami og blessing nga molampos kami sa katuyoan nga madala ang tingog sa tribu didto sa kongreso ug luwas kami sa peligro (We ask that we will be successful in our aim to bring the voice of the lumads in the Congress and that the gods will protect us from danger),” Capuyan, Katribu’s third nominee, told davaotoday.com.

By DANILDA L. FUSILERO
Davao Today

KIDAPAWAN CITY, Cotabato, Philippines – The heavy rains did not stop them from praying to their great ancestor.

The Bagobos and Manobos brought local wine and native white chickens at the Lake Agco Mt. Apo Natural for their customary ritual officiated by Datu Simeon Serrano, a Manobo Baylan and spiritual leader. The same ritual was simultaneously held at the Pamaas Holy Site.

On Monday, the lumads asked for blessings and guidance from Apo Sandawa whom they believed to have dwelt in the country’s highest peak. They specifically asked that they will have a representation in Congress, the nation’s highest lawmaking body.

Bai Norma Capuyan hadn’t asked Apo Sandawa alone. She asked for the rest of the spirits dwelling in Mt. Apo to guide them.

“Nangayo kami og blessing nga molampos kami sa katuyoan nga madala ang tingog sa tribu didto sa kongreso ug luwas kami sa peligro (We ask that we will be successful in our aim to bring the voice of the lumads in the Congress and that the gods will protect us from danger),” Capuyan, Katribu’s third nominee, told davaotoday.com.

Earlier, Aytas held a ritual at the doors of the national office of the Commission on Elections to ask their god, Apo Namalyari, for a “clean, honest and glitch-free” election. Their ritual kicked-off Katribu’s national campaign.

Francesca Tolentino, a Dumagat and secretary general of Katribu said “rituals are symbolic of our battle against the powers that dominate the coming elections.” She added that the Philippine elections had always been hounded by violence, cheating and disenfranchisement.

Katribu also raised that the continuing militarization of indigenous people communities posed a big threat to a peaceful and clean elections.

“Militarization may hamper the IP’s rights to cast their votes,” Tolentino said in an emailed press statement.

Capuyan echoed Tolentino’s statement, saying the continued military operations will eventually disenfranchise lumads and deprive them of their right to vote.

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